Quick Back-To-School Getaways Near Top Colleges

Whether you’re dropping off a sibling or friend, or moving back into the dorm yourself for another semester, making the trek to a university this fall doesn’t have to be boring or mundane. The beginning of the new academic year is the perfect reason to travel, student or not.

Stanford University – San Francisco, Calif.

Just a short drive away from Stanford is sunny San Francisco, Calif. If you’ve only caught glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge on television and never in real life, make an excuse to tag along if you know someone who’s headed that way, even if it’s just to help them carry a mini-fridge up three flights of stairs.

Princeton University – New York City

Only a few minutes apart are Princeton and New York City. If you’re one of the many students traveling from around the country to Princeton for their freshman year, keep in mind you can easily take the train straight from Princeton to Penn Station if you’re not bringing along your own set of wheels.

Duke University – Charlotte, N.C.

Duke University is a two-hour car trip from Charlotte, N.C. This southern gem has lots to offer visitors, whether you’re looking for family-oriented fun or something a bit crazier. Explore the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden with Mom and Dad, before heading out with your friends for drinks and dancing at Epicentre.

Yale University – Boston, Mass.

If you’ve got friends at Harvard, what better time and place to meet up with them than in Boston before the Yale semester starts? Yale and Boston are just about two hours away from one another, an easy weekend drive. Whether you’re itching to see a museum and the historical side of the city, or would rather party all night and sleep all day, Boston has you covered.